As I mentioned last week, it's clearly that time of year when there are lots of events calling to you to spend time away from the workplace.

It's always pleasing when you come away from these things knowing that you made the right decision to sacrifice the time and effort to attend - because of course sometimes you do have to ask yourself the question 'is this actually going to benefit me?'

I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with how impressive the Glee exhibition was this week when I went along to the NEC. It felt significantly larger and more abuzz than in recent times.

With the previous few visits I have made, the show had felt kind of perfunctory – not exactly dying, but perhaps going through the motions somewhat. Certainly for specialist dealers.

This year though there were clearly more exhibitors - including one returning major machinery manufacturer - and with the show featuring heavily in live broadcasts on BBC Breakfast on its opening day, there was the feeling that a significant event, for a vibrant industry, was taking place.

Plans are established in fact, to expand the show next year. More halls will be opened with a reorganising of the exhibition’s lay-out. Is this a sign that the gardening industry is enjoying an upswing in fortunes?

Perhaps. The show's organisers will certainly have you believe so. In a statement released upon the show closing on Wednesday, Show Director Matthew Mein said, "Glee has been a really strong show with a great buzz. The fresh features such as The Retail Lab and the outstanding seminar content have complimented the exhibitors' strong displays and new product launches. It has been really pleasing to see more teams of retailer's staff at the show, spending more time in the halls, soaking up the plethora of new ideas and retailing solutions.

"We are now looking forward to the refresh of Glee for 2018 with an exciting new floorplan to create a refreshed look and feel."

I spent some time talking to Simon Belcher md of Handy Distribution, who once again had the most significant machinery presence at the show. Simon certainly believes attending Glee each year is very important for his company. They have plans in place already for a differently shaped, but still impressively large stand in 2018 following the redesign.

Once again Simon said the customers they were seeing come onto their stand which featured Handy, Webb, Flymo, McCulloch, Karcher, Gardena, GreenWorks and Bosch, were not so much specialist dealers. “We’re talking to garden centres, hardware stores, mail order and DIY shops mainly,” he said. “Over the three days we’ll see a handful of dealers probably. But for us its always about the quality of people we talk to though, not the quantity.”

Asked what visitors to the stand were talking to them about Simon said, “We are seeing a lot interest in the Webb mowers. We’ve really started to make some penetration into the petrol market with those.”

Elsewhere the returning machinery manufacturer was STIHL, who with their fairly low-key, small stand were promoting their Compact Cordless range of products.

Targeting garden centres and suitable DIY/hardware stores, when asked if the company had signed up any of these new style retailers at the show, Dave Mackay, Business Development Manager said, “We’ve met some keen garden centres here at Glee which is great to see and was always our remit for this show. However we are taking a sustainable approach to new sign-ups which offers the right balance to new retailers and our loyal dealer network.”

It was following the show that STIHL made the announcement that they had signed up Dobbies Garden Centres across Scotland for the Compact Cordless range.

It'll be interesting to see if more announcements of similar retailers they met at show will be forthcoming. Also will they attend again next year? I don't know. But if it's going to be even bigger as the organisers promise, maybe we'll see other machinery companies starting to find their way back into the halls at the NEC?

Readers of the BAGMA Bulletin will have read an uncompromising article in the latest issue written by David Kirschner, in which the words ‘incensed’, ‘outrage’ feature prominently.

Now acting as consultant on industry training and education matters, David will be known to many, following his career with Renault Tractors and Claas, as a courteous, conscientious and dedicated ‘under-the-radar’ champion of raising standards and awareness of our industry.

So what got David’s back up – or rather who?

It all started with the 2012 Richard report which he describes as ‘a breath of fresh air’. Putting the onus of developing apprentice qualifications in the hands of individual industries and employers. At last a common-sense approach.

Until that is, bureaucrats get involved. During the past five years, responsibility for implementation (and funding) has passed through three different departments – and the minister responsible has changed five times!

This has meant constant writing and rewriting of standards for an ever-shifting bureaucratic base which David has prepared on behalf of the Landbased Training and Education Committee (LE-TEC) the registered company owned by BAGMA, AEA and IAgrE.

Currently responsibility for administering apprenticeship standards lies with the newly formed Institute of Apprenticeships (IfA), who recently took the extraordinary decision not to sanction Level 2 apprenticeships, only Level 3. Their rationale defies logic, for Level 2 has long been an important stepping stone for employees and employers. In a survey of more than 220 dealers by LE-TEC, 98.6% said that Level 2 was an essential encouragement to recruitment – and indeed 60% of apprenticeships within the industry start with Level 2.

David says, “Incredibly, IfA said that Level 2 did not represent a credible career option”. So much for the industry knowing what suits it - in other words 98.6% must be wrong.

He took his case to the IfA employers chairman who was sympathetic but not able to act.

One reader of the BAGMA Bulletin, Richard Trevarthen, well-known for his work with the John Deere Apprenticeship scheme, also decided to also weigh in. He took a copy of David’s article to his local MP, Nicky Morgan accompanied by a few strong words. She almost immediately set up a meeting with the Minister of State for Apprentices (currently Ann Milton MP) who took it to the IfA.

What was said, by whom we will never know, but suffice to say that last week, David Kirschner, received a phone call from the IfA to say that they would now approve Level 2 Apprenticeships. Common sense it appears has prevailed.

This industry is indeed fortunate to have people like David Kirschner (and indeed Richard Trevarthen) who have given a lifetime of service to the industry - and who now in ‘retirement’ are able to give so much back. We are fortunate to have them in our ranks.  

Read the full text of David Kirschner's article in the BAGMA Bulletin  

DEALER OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Nominations close September 22nd

Have you got your entry in yet for our Dealer of the Year Awards?

If not, don’t worry there is still time – and don’t forget that like last year dealerships are able to nominate themselves.

Our core awards will recognise Dealers of the Year across the Garden, Professional Turfcare, Farm Machinery, Forestry Equipment, and ATV/Quad sectors.



Once again the finalists for the Dealer of the Year awards will be assessed via feedback from the most important people to your business - your customers. 

Once you are entered into the competition we will send you a link which you could email to your customers which will take them to a page on our website where they can submit comments in favour of your dealership. We will also provide you with a logo you can add to your own website and a Word document you can print off and hand out at your premises.

We are gathering this feedback until 22 September 2017. So don’t delay, click here to get your dealership in the running.

'The Challenge of Change: Embracing & Adapting To A Changing Market'

The outline of this year’s Conference has been announced – and it promises to be a fascinating and educational day with more expert speakers that ever before.

You can find out all about our lineup of speakers here.

A popular addition to the format last year, which shall return in Novemeber, are the Breakout Sessions offered to delegates. These allow you to become more deeply involved in subjects that are close to you and your business - getting invloved in the debate in a smaller group.

Click here to book your tickets at the special EARLY BIRD prices which are available until September 29th.

STIHL Group has made the decision to broaden its retail network to include non-tradtional servicing dealers as it sees the demand for Lithium-Ion products grow exponentially.



As part of a five store pilot - with a view to future developments - consumers will now be able to purchase STIHL cordless and electric products and accessories from designated Dobbies Garden Centres across Scotland. 

The new pilot programme will be rolled out across Dobbies Garden Centres in Edinburgh (Melville), Aberdeen, Dundee, Ayr and Glasgow (Braehead), all of which will feature STIHL’s new Point of Sale system - specifically designed for garden centres. Dobbies’ Melville store will be the first to unveil the STIHL range as of today (15th September 2017).

In a press release statement Robin Lennie, Managing Director at STIHL GB, said: “We're delighted to announce this new pilot programme in five of Dobbies' stores. Whilst the demand for STIHL cordless products is at an all time high, we are committed to working with retail partners who not only offer a high quality shopping environment, but also well-trained staff to provide advice and support to our customers. We are therefore very pleased to be working with Dobbies who share STIHL's values.”

Andrew West, Purchasing Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, commented: “We are thrilled to launch such an exciting new partnership with STIHL. Dobbies' discerning customers are keen to see brands like STIHL in our stores and we're excited with this development."

In a letter to tradtional servicing dealers explaining the move into Dobbies, Robin Lennie wrote, "The importance of STIHL’s existing Approved Dealer network was and remains unaffected by this announcement since STIHL petrol-powered machines and accessories as well as servicing, continue to be exclusively available through STIHL Approved Dealers."

He went on to say, "I appreciate the concerns that some Approved Dealers may have but I want to reassure you that we will continue to hand pick all STIHL retailers and will only work with those prepared to commit to our quality requirements with regards to merchandising and training."

On September 7^th the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) informed the Landbased Engineering - Training and Education Committee Ltd (LE-TEC) that its previous decision to withdraw the Landbased Engineering level 2 ‘Service Engineer’ apprenticeship from the government’s approved apprenticeship list has been reversed.

This decision has been made after consideration of the representations made to them by LE-TEC, supported by the recent survey results. Furthermore the newly updated level 2 ‘Service Engineer’ apprenticeship standard and its associated assessment plan have been approved.

The Land-based Engineering level 2 ‘Service Engineer’ apprenticeship now joins the level 3 ‘Technician’ apprenticeship as being fully approved and deliverable.

Publication of both the level 2 and level 3 land-based engineering standards will appear on the government’s website in 4-6 weeks time when the IfA funding committee have reviewed the funding bands as being appropriate.

Meanwhile the advice given by the IfA is that training providers and employers should enrol new apprentices onto the published apprenticeship standards to enable them to start immediately and transfer the apprentices onto the new standards when they are published.

LE-TEC is the Landbased Engineering Training and Education Committee Ltd. It is a registered company formed from three industry organisations representing the Landbased Engineering sector, the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA) and the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).

Masport is the market leader in New Zealand and the number two in Australia in the development and production of gardening equipment under the brands Masport and Morrison. In addition, the company, founded in 1910 and based in Auckland, offers a comprehensive range of barbecue equipment.

In the UK Masport is distributed by FGM Claymore and AL-KO by Rochfords Garden Machinery. Service Dealer has been told that no changes will be made to these distribution arrangements.

Masport will continue to function as an independent company and operate under the AL-KO umbrella with its existing Masport brands.

"We are pleased to bring one of the strongest garden equipment brands across the Atlantic to the AL-KO Group with Masport. The investment clearly represents a strong future for AL-KO Gardentech," said Stefan Kober, CEO of AL-KO Kober SE.

"Masport is a well-established and managed company with a first-class economic situation. We see no reason for internal changes, just more potential for development for AL-KO Gardentech and Masport."

Dr. Wolfgang Hergeth, Managing Director of AL-KO Gardentech said, "Steve Hughes, who has been running Masport for 10 years, will continue to direct the business and report directly to me in the future. Both brands will benefit from an exchange of know-how - ultimately benefiting the end-user. To what extent a mutual product and market integration will take place, we will examine with all due care."
 

Steve Hughes, Managing Director of Masport said, "AL-KO Gardentech and Masport will form a strong duo on the global gardening market. I am delighted that we are now able to continue our positive development under the umbrella of a modern group of entrepreneurial traditions and continue to offer our customers first-class, innovative products."

Stephen Howarth, Agricultural Economist at the Association says of this dip in August, "This did follow a very healthy level of registrations in July and may be partly explained by the fact that there were five Mondays in August last year but five Mondays in July this year. In addition, it was at this point in 2016 when significant increases were beginning to be seen, so we are comparing with higher levels one year ago.

"The cumulative total for the year now stands at 8,111 units, still 11.5% more than for the same period of 2016."

These data refer to ‘Agricultural’ tractors of a power exceeding 50hp.

Honda have announced that their robotic lawnmower Miimo has joined the company's special year of 25th anniversaries with two Type R and Fireblade-inspired prototypes.


Miimo Fireblade and Type R

These fully functioning, special-editions have been created to celebrate a quarter of a century of Honda’s halo racing marques, Type R and Fireblade.

In trademark Championship White with the ‘Red H’ badge front and back, Miimo Type R features a black and white spoiler, black bumpers, and the Type R logo emblazoned down both sides.

Miimo Fireblade wears the famous red, white and blue tri-colour paint scheme and the ‘face’ of the iconic super sports bike, topped off with the HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) logo.

Both models were subject to their own custom paint job rather than a vinyl wrap, with graphics made of specialist cast wrapping film applied and sculpted around Miimo 520’s curves.

The company says Miimo Type R’s spoiler was the biggest challenge - its complex shape requiring a malleable and waterproof material - with high density foam board chosen due to its ability to be worked when heated and cooled. The centre section was then wrapped in carbon fibre vinyl to match the Type R look.

In a further effort to replicate the finest detail of each model to which the special editions pay homage, Miimo Fireblade features 45 working LED head and taillights, with Miimo Type R using 40, powered by USB power banks. In a final touch on Miimo Type R, 32mm and 25mm stainless steel was used to create a scaled down version of the car’s triple exhaust system.

The AEA have launched their Training for Business prospectus for 2017/2018.

The Association offer bespoke courses for the landbased and agricultural industries and say that the pricing structure has once again been held at introduction season levels.

A spokesperson said, "These courses offer exceptional training at very reduced costs to our members."

Contact Angela on ab@aea.uk.com or 01733 207602 for further information. Or download the prospectus from their website here.

E. P. Barrus Ltd has announced that September 18th 2017 marks their official 100-year birthday.

It all began in 1917 when Ernest Prouty Barrus set up a company in the UK to supply Starrett precision tools including micrometers and measuring equipment and distribute them throughout Europe. Over the last century, Barrus say they have constantly adapted to new opportunities and challenges and diversified into multiple market sectors including Marine, Garden and Industrial. E. P. Barrus is co-owned by the Glen family and MTD Holdings, also a family owned company based in the USA, and one of the largest producers of outdoor power equipment in the world.


An early MTD Lawn Tractor

Barrus entered the garden machinery market during the late 1950’s and introduced the first Barrus-made lawnmowers sold under the brand name of Mowmaster. These “Direct collect” machines were ahead of their time not only because they featured the unique Barrus grass collection system, but they were also the first composite plastic mowers on the world market. Barrus went on to become MTD’s first export customer in Europe in 1972 with the distribution of a range of garden machinery sold under the Lawnflite brand name.

Today, the company has long-standing partnerships with global suppliers, representing over 30 brands which are distributed through over 3000 authorised dealers nationwide. Cub Cadet garden machinery; WOLF-Garten and Wilkinson Sword garden tools; Mariner and Mercury outboard engines; Quicksilver leisure and fishing boats; John Deere and Yanmar marine and industrial engines, are just a few of the well-respected brands in the Barrus portfolio.

Robert Glen, Chairman, E. P. Barrus Ltd and the grandson of the founder Ernest Barrus commented, “As we celebrate our centenary we reflect on our proud past and most importantly express our sincere thanks to our customers, suppliers, distributors and partners, and loyal employees who have put their trust in Barrus and helped build the company’s success.”


The latest line-up of Cub Cadet Lawn Tractors

Robert Muir, Managing Director, E. P. Barrus Ltd, said, “One hundred years in business represents a tremendous milestone. Not only are we looking back but also forward, focusing on the company’s future to build on our success and best serve our customers.

"2017 is, indeed, a momentous year with recent announcements including our exciting new location plans which will enable us to grow the business. The acquisition of the gardening gloves and footwear company, Town & Country, and the engine supply contract awarded to Barrus by Atlas Elektronik UK who will build the £48M next generation Royal Navy workboats.

"As our centennial strapline states, 'We are celebrating our first 100-years, gearing up for the next'."

Kubota UK has announced its adoption of the official CESAR Scheme for its M Series range of tractors.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is owned and managed by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and supported by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA). By utilising Datatag ID technology, CESAR is designed to increase machine security and deter tractor theft.


Kubota M Series

Dave Roberts, Managing Director at Kubota UK, commented: “Farm equipment is a popular target for thieves. As a manufacturer, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to make our products as appealing as possible to our customers and less attractive to criminals.

“As part of our ongoing investment in the agricultural industry, I am delighted to announce that from 1st September, all of our M Series tractors are CESAR marked. Datatag ID is proven in protecting and reducing machinery theft as well as being an essential technology for recovering stolen equipment.

“Another key benefit of fitting this technology on our M Series is the fact that our customers will now have the opportunity to benefit from reduced insurance premiums from NFU Mutual, and other leading insurers, who offer significant discounts for CESAR registered equipment.”

This news comes hot on the heels of the annual NFU Mutual Crime Report, which identified the cost of rural crime at £40m p.a. and notes that regrettably rural crime is once again on the increase.

Chris Harrison, Sales Director at Datatag ID Ltd, said: “We have been working in partnership with Kubota UK for a number of years helping to protect its range of mini-excavators. It’s fantastic that the business has now decided to expand its support of CESAR for its M Series tractors.”

The Datatag ID system works by giving each piece of equipment a multi-layered ‘fingerprint’ that thieves cannot remove. Each M Series tractor will be fitted with four tamper evident registration plates with a unique registration number, RFID tags, Datatdots and forensic DNA.

CESAR operate a 24x7 call centre which the police and other enforcement agencies can use to establish the identity and ownership of CESAR registered equipment. CESAR protects over 250,000 pieces of equipment and the recovery rate for stolen CESAR registered machines is more than double that for unregistered equipment.

Make a note of the date of their last mow and let them know.

Cub Cadet’s questionnaire simply asks people for their name, county and the date of their last mow. It is all part of the company's research campaign into exploring the impact of changing weather patterns on UK gardens, in particular on lawns.

The project was launched earlier this year and asked gardeners to inform Cub Cadet of the date of their lawnmowers first outing. Now, as the end of the season draws closer, the final date is requested to show the length of the lawnmowing timeframe.

Discussing the project, Nick Hills, General Manager for Cub Cadet UK, said, “Our findings earlier in the year told us that 26th March was the most popular day to start mowing with feedback suggesting this was earlier than ever. We are now looking to find out the last day to see if people are mowing for longer. Inevitably, the key findings will be when we have yearly figures to compare with but we’re looking forward to seeing the results for 2017.”

To submit your mowing date, find Cub Cadet on Facebook at Cub Cadet UK, on Twitter @CubCadet_UK, or email hello@paskettpr.co.uk to receive the questionnaire.

In return for the information Cub Cadet is offering £50 worth of National Garden Gift Vouchers to be redeemed at garden centres across the country.

Submit your final mow date here.

Reesink Turfcare has announced four new Toro finance schemes offering six ways to pay.

Toro Triple Finance and the Buy Now Pay Later scheme offer customers six ways to finance their Toro machinery.


TriFlex 3420

Toro Triple Finance offers three different payment options to suit individual budgets and circumstances. Option one involves an interest-free payment in full within year one. Option two offers customers the chance to spread the cost over five annual payments, concluding with a final payment in month 60 equivalent to 15% of the original cost. Option three is another five-year scheme, but with monthly repayments instead of annual, again with a final payment in month 60 equivalent to 15% of the original cost.

Buy Now Pay Later is back, bringing with it three options for interest free payment. Whether a customer buys in September, October or November, payment is required in full by 7 May 2018.

Jeff Anguige, national sales manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “The ever-increasing importance of the role of finance in the acquisition of turf machinery is reflected strongly in these finance schemes offering customers six options on how to fill or top-up their shed with new Toro machinery.

“These six options give golf clubs and grounds customers the ability to purchase equipment now and make affordable payments over periods which suit most clubs.”

All deals are available now until 18 November 2017, available to customers in the UK only and subject to acceptance. 

Winchester Garden Machinery Ltd have a position available for a Golf & Turf Sales Person based in Winchester and covering the Hampshire and West Sussex regions.

Duties Include:

Building strong and loyal relationships with new and existing customers, monitoring customers’ business activities, quoting with the use of finance if required, carrying out demonstrations of new equipment, delivering and installing equipment with timely follow up calls, liaising with manufacturers and suppliers, maintaining current product knowledge and awareness of competitive products.

Skills & Qualifications:

Experience in machine sales with a good knowledge of Golf & Turf equipment would be preferable along with the ability to use standard computer applications, internet functions & sales tools, excellent customer relationship skills and the ability to work well with all departments across the Company.

Contact: Amy Nocetti

Telephone: 01962 857944

Email: amy.nocetti@wgmltd.co.uk

Address: Winchester Garden Machinery Ltd, Fair Lane, Off Alresford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HF

The countdown to Europe’s largest annual turf management event has officially begun, marked by the opening of online visitor registration.



SALTEX 2017 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 1-2 November, and has already attracted over 250 exhibitors - a number that’s set to grow further in the weeks leading up to the event. Confirmed to return are a number of leading brand names spanning the whole turf management industry including manufacturers and suppliers of world-class products and services for the maintenance of pitches, grounds, landscaping, parks and estates.

SALTEX will also once again boast unique show features such as:

• Learning LIVE - an all-encompassing free-to-attend education programme offering grounds and open space practitioners across all disciplines, volunteer as well as professional, the chance to increase their CPD points.
• Outdoor demonstrations - providing an opportunity to see a number of products in action directly outside the SALTEX halls 6, 7 and 8.
• The SALTEX College Cup - a national student-led sports-turf challenge sponsored by Ransomes.
• Pathology & Soil Science LIVE - allowing visitors to look in detail at the symptoms of some common turfgrass fungal disease problems.
• The Young Groundsmen’s Conference, sponsored by Rigby Taylor and Top Green - an ideal opportunity for young people looking to advance their career in the groundscare industry
• Ask the Expert – free pitchcare advice from the IOG’s team of regional pitch advisors based on the IOG Hub
• The IOG Industry Awards - the UK’s biggest celebration in groundsmanship held on the evening of the first day (1 November) at the National Motorcycle Museum.
• NEW for 2017! The Job Clinic – the chance to receive one-to-one advice from industry expert Frank Newberry on how to progress your career, write a compelling CV and perform well in an interview situation.

Located in the centre of the UK, whether you are travelling from overseas or within the UK, the NEC is incredibly easy to get to by car, rail or air.

SALTEX 2017 is free to attend. To register your attendance and beat the queues visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook - www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

The following organisations have confirmed their sponsorship of the 2017 Service Dealer Conference and Awards. We’d like to welcome them on board and thank them for their support and input. 

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR




GOLD SPONSOR




SPONSORS

Want to become a sponsor? Email: julie@theadplain.com